Looking For A Not Overly Saturated Brown Ink

[andymcc]

I've been trying to find a pure brown ink for a while now and I'm having no luck. I currently use Diamine Raw Sienna as it's not too saturated but I use it for ink and wash drawings and find that water washes bring out a peach/pinky colour.

I've also tried Diamine Golden Brown but that is too green with washes and Diamine Dark Brown in closer to Pelikan's Brilliant Brown which is very orange.

 

Can anyone recommend and inks that might suit my purpose please? No Noodlers inks though please as they're too expensive in the UK

 

I've attached a picture of the type of brown I'm after, the picture is a Rubens study not one of mine

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/25ezgj5.jpg

[Davros]

Rorher and Klingner Sepia leaps to mind.

[jmccarty3]

J. Herbin's Cacao du Brésil might also work. If you're looking for a darker brown, you could try Iroshizuku yama-guri.

[andymcc]

Rorher and Klingner Sepia leaps to mind.

 

Thanks, that actually look almost perfect, not too dark but also not just flat brown

J. Herbin's Cacao du Brésil might also work. If you're looking for a darker brown, you could try Iroshizuku yama-guri.

Thanks for the reply I like Herbins Lie De The so I'll check out the Cacao Du Brezil, I like the look of the Pilot inks but the price per ml is a little steep for me :S

[mirosc]

R+K Sepia, too

 

maybe also a Waterman Havana Brown (maybe a bit diluted)

[migo984]

Monteverde Brown

[andymcc]

R+K Sepia, too

 

maybe also a Waterman Havana Brown (maybe a bit diluted)

 

Thanks:) I'll be ordering a bottle of R&K this week, the Havana Brown is another that's been on my list to get for a while as it looks like it has a little less red in than Visconti Sepia.

 

Monteverde Brown

Thanks for the reply I'd never seen Monteverde Brown but it looks interesting, it slightly resembles a less saturated Pelikan Brilliant Brown but with far less copper/orange to it.

[Kataphract]

De Atramentis document ink Brown is one you might wish to look into. Waterproof, dries fast.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

In addition to the excellent suggestions above, kindly consider Diamine Macassar.

 

It is quite dark, and not overly warm. It doesn't flash another hue when the Value is high (diluted):

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/Comparison%20-%20Sheaffer%20Skrip%20Blue%20TO%20MBRB/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Macassar/9f141458.jpg

 

 

Also, when overworked with a wet brush, the remnant is much the same hue as the ink that comes adrift, as shown in the Wet Tests below.*

 

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/Comparison%20-%20Sheaffer%20Skrip%20Blue%20TO%20MBRB/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Macassar/88ebd591.jpg

 

Much depends on the base tint of the paper to get the 'right' simultaneous contrast. It just might be worthwhile to start with a slightly warm ink, then add a whisper of Black to lower the chroma without shifting the hue all so much. (?) To illustrate, here's a few samples of Brown-ish inks on both Creme and White papers:

 

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/Mix%20Noodlers%20Lexington%20Gray%20Galileo%20Manuscript/INK774_zpscba73eea.jpg

 

Rendering the paper (background) of the Rubens to a neutral hue gives a better depiction of the ink hue:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%202015/FPN-Sepia.jpg

 

This thread on wetcanvas.com may be worth a wee shufti, Ink Samples With Wash: Brown Inks http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=929878

 

Bye,

S1

 

__ __

* My reviews of other Brown inks include that sort of test, and a brief mention as to use as a watercolour.

Edited January 18, 2015 by Sandy1

[andymcc]

De Atramentis document ink Brown is one you might wish to look into. Waterproof, dries fast.

Thanks for the suggestion but the waterproof property of that ink won't work as I need the ink to bleed to create the washes, I like the inks colour though

[andymcc]

Hi,

 

In addition to the excellent suggestions above, kindly consider Diamine Macassar.

 

It is quite dark, and not overly warm. It doesn't flash another hue when the Value is high (diluted):

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/Comparison%20-%20Sheaffer%20Skrip%20Blue%20TO%20MBRB/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Macassar/9f141458.jpg

 

 

Also, when overworked with a wet brush, the remnant is much the same hue as the ink that comes adrift, as shown in the Wet Tests below.*

 

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/Comparison%20-%20Sheaffer%20Skrip%20Blue%20TO%20MBRB/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Macassar/88ebd591.jpg

 

Much depends on the base tint of the paper to get the 'right' simultaneous contrast. It just might be worthwhile to start with a slightly warm ink, then add a whisper of Black to lower the chroma without shifting the hue all so much. (?) To illustrate, here's a few samples of Brown-ish inks on both Creme and White papers:

 

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/Mix%20Noodlers%20Lexington%20Gray%20Galileo%20Manuscript/INK774_zpscba73eea.jpg

 

Rendering the paper (background) of the Rubens to a neutral hue gives a better depiction of the ink hue:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%202015/FPN-Sepia.jpg

 

This thread on wetcanvas.com may be worth a wee shufti, Ink Samples With Wash: Brown Inks http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=929878

 

Bye,

S1

 

__ __

* My reviews of other Brown inks include that sort of test, and a brief mention as to use as a watercolour.

Thanks Sandy with the paper more neutral the Macassar looks really close the the Rubens ink which was probably oak gall ink. I'll be passing Diamine tomorrow so I might try to call in and grab a bottle

[amberleadavis]

Here are some swabs, but Sandy1 is almost always right.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/279274-inky-t-o-d-color-swatches-brown-please-post-your-pictures-and-tell-us-your-thoughts/

[MarcS]

i enjoyed pelikan brilliant brown. i think it's a touch more red than the brown in the sketch (at least as i see it on my screen), but you might like it too, and the price is very attractive.

[Runnin_Ute]

My first thought was Monteverde Brown. I have a wee bit of a sample left, I will have to try it again. I remember liking it, and most browns I have tried (Noodler's Walnut among others) were to dark and just not appealing to me.

[Sandy1]

Thanks Sandy with the paper more neutral the Macassar looks really close the the Rubens ink which was probably oak gall ink. I'll be passing Diamine tomorrow so I might try to call in and grab a bottle

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

Please let us know how your inky adventure progresses.

 

Bye,

S1

[SallyLyn]

+1 on the Waterman Brown. Sheaffer Brown another. Both work well in any pen and you can mix a tiny drop of another color to play.

[jasonchickerson]

 

Thanks, that actually look almost perfect, not too dark but also not just flat brown

Thanks for the reply I like Herbins Lie De The so I'll check out the Cacao Du Brezil, I like the look of the Pilot inks but the price per ml is a little steep for me :S

 

Cacao du Bresil and R&K Sepia are almost identical in color. The Cacao behaves better overall and I think it is slightly prettier (it has that lavender undertone). The Sepia might wash prettier, depending on your preference.

 

Here's a quick sketch with Cacao du Bresil on the right.

 

 

Also, see my addition here.

[andymcc]

Here are some swabs, but Sandy1 is almost always right.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/279274-inky-t-o-d-color-swatches-brown-please-post-your-pictures-and-tell-us-your-thoughts/

 

Thanks I agree about the Macassar being really close.

i enjoyed pelikan brilliant brown. i think it's a touch more red than the brown in the sketch (at least as i see it on my screen), but you might like it too, and the price is very attractive.

 

I love Pelikan Brilliant Brown and always have a pen inked with it but for an old looking sketch it's a little too vibrant when used as a wash

My first thought was Monteverde Brown. I have a wee bit of a sample left, I will have to try it again. I remember liking it, and most browns I have tried (Noodler's Walnut among others) were to dark and just not appealing to me.

Thanks the Monteverde Brown looks quite like Pelikan Brown or Diamine Dark Brown a great colour but a little too red for this type of drawing, I'm always using this type of colour in my sketches though .

[andymcc]

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

Please let us know how your inky adventure progresses.

 

Bye,

S1

Will do

 

+1 on the Waterman Brown. Sheaffer Brown another. Both work well in any pen and you can mix a tiny drop of another color to play.

Thanks I've tried Shaeffer in the past but ended up liking Pelikans Brown more, I think because it's a little more saturated. Watermans looks a nice ink quite similar to Visconti which I like but cheaper which is good

[andymcc]

 

Cacao du Bresil and R&K Sepia are almost identical in color. The Cacao behaves better overall and I think it is slightly prettier (it has that lavender undertone). The Sepia might wash prettier, depending on your preference.

 

Here's a quick sketch with Cacao du Bresil on the right.

 

_FUJ6387.jpg

 

Also, see my addition here.

Thank you for the sketch The Cacao looks great and I can see what you mean about the lavender undertone, I think that, the R&K and Macassar are all going on my next order

Edited January 20, 2015 by andymcc